Masdar: The Future of Sustainable City in Abu Dhabi, UAE

FWOORRYLODU’SNFGIRBSTADEANSGSINENEEGRININEGERNSEWS
JULY 2016 ISSUE NO. 005

MASDAR: SPECIAL FEATURE
STORIES:
THE FUTURE OF
SUSTAINABLE CITY Future Cities

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Smartest Cities in the World
WITH THE CEO

Robotics

Artificial Intelligence

Deep Learning

Exoskeleton

Social Good Technologies
JULY 2016 1
Future Cities & Robotics



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CONTENTS

PAGE TITLE PAGE TITLE

06 COVER STORY 43 SCARLETT JOHANSSON
12 44 BECOMES A DOLL ROBOT
15 MASDAR: THE 48 HOW THE JETSONS
16 FUTURE CITY 50 PREDICTED THE
17 56 FUTURE
20 WORLD’S FIRST CHILD 58 THE QUEEN OF
26 EXOSKELETON HELPS 60 USELESS ROBOTS
30 DISABLED KIDS TO WALK 62 ROBOTS THAT WILL MAKE
34 ENGINEERS HELP 64 THE KIDS WANT TO LEARN
37 PARALYTICS TO GET BACK 66 MATH AND SCIENCE
38 ON THEIR FEET 68 FUTURISTIC CITIES
‘2045 INITIATIVE’: THE YOU'D WANT TO LIVE IN
TECHNOLOGY TO GAIN
ETERNAL LIFE 6 GADGETS MADE
FROM LEGO BRICKS
THE MORAL AND ETHICAL
ISSUE WITH ROBOTS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT ROBOTICS
MEET THE REAL JARVIS ENGINEERS
FROM IRON MAN HOW WOULD HUMANS
SCIENTISTS ARE TEACHING SURVIVE A CURRENT
AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ROBOT APOCALYPSE?
SYSTEM TO TELL STORIES HOW R2-D2 AND C-3PO
BASED ON PHOTOS INSPIRED THOUSANDS
BIG GUYS - HAWKING, TO JOIN ROBOTICS
WOZNIAK, HASSABIS AND TOP 50 ROBOTICS
MUSK ARE OPPOSING COMPANIES IN THE
AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS WORLD
ROBOTS ARE THE FUTURE 10 MOST FAMOUS
OF CONSTRUCTION FICTIONAL ROBOTS

WORLD’S FIRST POLICE
ROBOT WORTH $3.2 BILLION

ELIOS: THE WORLD'S FIRST
COLLISION TOLERANT
DRONE

COVER STORY

MASDAR:

THE FUTURE CITY

MEET THE KNOWING THE
COMPANY’S COMPANY
CEO:
MOHAMED Q: Are you an educational
JAMEEL AL institution, social enterprise,
RAMAHI non-profit or private
company?
I joined Masdar in 2008
as Head of Internal Audit Masdar is a commercially
and Compliance. Later, I driven renewable energy
was appointed Masdar’s company based in Abu
Director of Corporate Services Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
and Financial Affairs. I The company has a mission
subsequently became Chief to invest, incubate and
Financial Officer, and then establish a new energy
Chief Operating Officer of industry in Abu Dhabi and
Masdar. I was appointed around the world. Masdar
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is playing an important role
in February 2016. in extending Abu Dhabi’s
In addition to my energy leadership beyond
responsibilities as CEO, I serve hydrocarbons. Masdar is
on the board of a number of delivering on its goal of
prominent companies, joint becoming an innovative,
ventures and special entities, holistic, ecosystem while
including the Dudgeon helping to realise a template
Offshore Wind Farm in the for sustainable urban
UK, the Masdar Solar Wind development. Masdar City
Cooperative, the Masdar is the home of the Masdar
Investment Committee, Institute of Science and
and Torresol Energy. Before Technology, the focal point
joining Masdar, I was head of an innovation cluster
of the Internal Audit and that is leading global
Risk Management Office at technology partnerships,
GASCO, a leading oil and gas commercializing new
company based in Abu Dhabi. technologies and driving
I have a bachelor’s degree in real-world innovation.
business administration and
finance from the University of Q: How big is your company?
Evansville in the US.
Masdar was established in
2006 as a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi
government’s Mubadala
Development Company.
Our company is located 17

6 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

kilometers east-south-east of the City to be complete within
the city of Abu Dhabi near 5 years (up from 5 per cent
its international airport: our today) and to quadruple the
operations span the globe number of tenants in Masdar
from Europe through the City Free Zone. We will
Middle East and North Africa continue adding residential
(MENA) region to the Indian facilities, commercial facilities
Ocean, Asia and the Pacific and educational institutions,
islands. as well as building out the
clean-tech R&D hub.
Q: Describe your mission, In clean energy, our goal is
vision and values. to double the clean energy
capacity in our portfolio in the
Masdar is advancing next 10 years and to continue
the development and improving energy access in
commercialization of some of the most remote
renewable energy and areas of the world.
sustainable technologies
in both developed and
developing markets. Through
initiatives such as Masdar
City, Masdar is helping INTRODUCTION
to realize a template – or
“greenprint” - for sustainable Q: What is clean energy?
urban development. Masdar
is realizing solutions and Clean energy can be defined
technologies at the critical as sustainable and renewable
nexus of water and energy energy sources that increase
– in a region where water the global carbon footprint.
is more important than oil. Masdar has been at the
Masdar is helping to equip forefront of the UAE’s efforts
the region’s future leaders to deploy clean energy at
in energy and sustainable home and abroad, while
development with the skills driving sustainable economic
to succeed in an increasingly growth, employment,
diversified economy. Through innovation and prosperity.
its diverse activities, Masdar Since its inception in 2006,
is raising awareness among Masdar has positioned Abu
the wider community of the Dhabi on the front line
importance and potential of clean energy research
of sustainability and clean and technology, investing
energy, helping to change over US$2.7 billion in clean
behavior and motivate action. energy projects around the
world, with nearly 1.7 GW of
Q: Where is this company renewable energy capacity
headed? What’s your future either in operation or under
expansion plans? development globally.

Our long-term vision is to make Masdar has 360-degree
Abu Dhabi the preeminent expertise in renewable energy
source of renewable energy projects, from development to
knowledge, development and construction to operation: the
implementation, as well as company now has projects in
the world’s benchmark for the UAE, Spain, the United
sustainable development. Kingdom, Jordan, Mauritania,
In the next five years, we will Seychelles and the South
further develop Masdar City Pacific.
as an innovation ecosystem. • The 630MW London Array
Our aim is for 35 percent of in the Thames Estuary,
the planned built-up area of UK, is Masdar’s biggest

JULY 2016 7
Future Cities & Robotics

international investment at Why bother? What's the
present and the largest wind importance of pursuing clean
farm in the world currently in energy?
operation It is crucial that we develop
clean energy to mitigate
• Masdar has a 35% share climate change and address
in the planned Dudgeon domestic and global energy
offshore wind farm in Britain, demand. Our rapidly
which is being developed urbanizing world will mean
with the Norwegian partners that cities are likely to host
Statoil and Statkraft up to 70% of the world’s
population by 2050. We need
• The Tafila Wind Farm in to reduce carbon emissions
Jordan is the first utility-scale and provide sufficient energy
wind farm commissioned for a rapidly growing global
in the region. The US$238 population.
million project is capable The UAE’s commitment to
of producing 117MW generate 24 percent of its
of electricity, delivering electricity from clean energy
400GWh of electricity sources by 2021 shows both
annually and displacing our nation’s commitment
235,000 tonnes of CO2 to climate action and its
• A pilot desalination willingness to invest in the
programme in Ghantoot, Abu innovation needed to achieve
Dhabi, is producing 1,500 such an ambitious target.
m3/day of potable water
over 15 months using four THE MACRO
unique technologies from LEVEL OF
four international partners. CLEAN
The programme is ultimately ENERGY
aimed at the large-scale
deployment of one or more Q: Where are we today? What
of these energy-efficient is the current situation of
desalination technologies renewables?
in the UAE and potentially Globally, an estimated
across the MENA region, and US$329 billion was invested
in other global locations. in new renewable energy
capacity last year, an all-time
• Masdar’s 100MW Shams 1 high [2015 Bloomberg New
facility in the Western Region Energy Finance Report (http://
of Abu Dhabi is still one of the www.climateweeknyc.org/
world’s largest concentrated news-media/clean-energy-
solar power plants, capable hit-record-investment-last-
of ruepductoing17C5O,0200emtiossnionness year-bnef-report)]. Emerging
by markets still account for a
annually. relatively small proportion
of this expenditure, but the
• In partnership with ADNOC, Middle East and North Africa
Masdar is developing a (MENA) region will steadily
Carbon, Capture, Usage acquire a larger share of
and Storage project that newly installed renewables
sequesters industrial carbon capacity. At Masdar, we
and enhances oil recovery are refocusing our efforts
on the further adoption of
• Through the Ecomagination clean energy and sustainable
2020 Partnership, Masdar development across MENA in
and GE are implementing the
first complete energy-neutral
wastewater treatment
process.

8 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

2016, building on our many • Solar Hub testing and R&D
successful projects overseas. facility, Abu Dhabi
Q: Where should we be 10 • Renewable Energy
years from now? Are we Desalination pilot
on the right track? Are we programme
delayed? Are we progressing? • London Array, UK (630 MW
The business case for offshore wind farm)
renewable energy is now • Gemasolar solar power
beyond doubt. A recent plant, Spain (20 MW)
report by the International • Valle 1 and 2 solar plants,
Renewable Energy Agency Spain (100 MW)
suggests that doubling the • Tafila Wind Farm, Jordan
share of renewables in the (117 MW)
global energy mix by 2030 • 600 solar home systems in
could boost global GDP by 27 villages in Afghanistan
1%. That equates to more • Sheikh Zayed Solar Power
than 1 trillion US dollars and Plant, Mauritania (15 MW PV
an estimated 24 million jobs. plant)
Countries in arid and semi- • Port Victoria Wind Power
arid regions are increasingly Project, the Republic of
setting renewable energy Seychelles (6 MW)
targets in their energy mix as • Siwa Solar PV Plant, Egypt
demand grows, serving as a (10 MW)
boost for investments in solar • Red Sea Solar Power Plants,
and wind power ventures. Egypt (14 MW)
At the same time, prices • Al Wadi Al Jadeed Solar PV
are becoming increasingly Plants, Egypt (6 MW)
competitive. • 7000 Solar Home Systems
in Egypt
MASDAR’S • Kiribati: 500kW Solar PV &
INITIATIVES, Water Protection
DEVELOPMENTS • Fiji: LaKaRo 525kW Solar
AND PV plant
ACHIEVEMENTS • Samoa: 550kW Cyclone-
Proof Wind Farm
Q: What are the initiatives / • Tonga: Vava’u 512 kW Solar
projects that you are doing PV plant
(or have done) that will drive • Tuvalu: 500kW Rooftop
low or zero emission? Solar PV plant
Masdar is a for-profit, • Vanuatu: Port Vila 767kW
renewable energy company Solar PV plant
that has been fulfilling a • Solomon Islands – Solar PV
mission to invest, incubate Plant in Honiara
and advance the new • Marshall Islands – Solar
energy economy around the Water Collection in Majuro
world since the company’s • The Republic of Nauru –
inception in 2006. Nauru Solar PV plant
Our completed projects are: • Palau – Solar Penetration
• Shams 1, Abu Dhabi (100 and Water Access projects
MW CSP plant) • FSM – Solar PV plant in
• Masdar City, Abu Dhabi: Pohnpei
10 MW PV array and 1MW
roof-top complex, Abu Our projects currently under
Dhabi development are:

• Carbon Capture, Usage &
Storage project, Abu Dhabi
• Waste to Energy projects
• Dudgeon, UK (402 MW
offshore wind farm)
• A 50MW onshore wind farm
in Dhofar, Oman

JULY 2016 9
Future Cities & Robotics

• A 200MW PV plant in Jordan • Electric Energy Storage clean energy generation. thin-film modules supplied by
• Additional PV projects in Solutions Hub: exploring the Our already-operational solar Suntech and First Solar.
Mauritania with a total potential of electrochemical and wind projects have a total Masdar also manages the
capacity of 12MW technologies to enhance the peak capacity of nearly 1,000 Zayed Future Energy Prize.
Q: What are the future capacity of renewable energy megawatts (MW) and are From ensuring access to
innovations that your systems to store power, displacing nearly 2.5 million modern energy in rural African
company is currently enabling their wider adoption metric tons (2,389,725 m/t) villages, to empowering
pursuing? in the energy mix. of carbon dioxide per year. Bangladeshi women with
The pilot research projects • Geothermal Energy: a Another 700MW of capacity is careers as solar technicians,
located at Masdar City, many project evaluating a possible currently under development. more than 202 million people
of them led by or closely power source for district Among the most notable of around the world have
involving MI scientists and cooling. With geothermal our clean energy projects is the experienced the sustainable
students, are accelerating wells already sunk to a depth 630MW London Array, which actions of the Zayed Future
the acquisition of scientific of 2,500 metres within the is the largest offshore wind Energy Prize winners. Through
knowledge in the clean tech grounds of Masdar City, the project in the world currently progressive achievements
industry and paving the way research initiative is the first in operation. The landmark recognized by the awards,
towards the development of its type in the Middle East Gemasolar concentrated solar water security is now a
of real-world commercial and may be converted into power (CSP) plant in Spain reality for millions of families
applications. As the a full-fledged demonstration was the first utility-scale solar across Bangladesh, India,
surrounding community at project. plant to deliver electricity to Ghana and the Philippines.
Masdar City grows, the R&D • The Masdar Solar Hub: the grid 24 hours a day. Renewable energy sources
cluster will also expand. Photovoltaic (PV) Test Centre: Masdar City’s 10MW supply electricity to 60 million
The exciting and innovative operated in partnership with photovoltaic array produces people, and enough carbon
new projects currently being the Masdar Institute and TÜV about 17,500 megawatt- emissions have been avoided
developed at Masdar City Rheinland, the facility provides hours of clean electricity to offset the price of global
include: independent measurement of annually and offsets 15,000 deforestation for a year.
• Eco-Villa Prototype: a project the performance, reliability tonnes of carbon emissions The Zayed Future Energy
incorporating innovative and durability of PV modules, per year. The plant consists of Prize’s Global High Schools
water- and energy-saving their panel coatings and other 87,780 multi-crystalline and category was launched in 2012
technologies and design related technical equipment.
features that significantly • The Masdar Solar Hub:
reduce its environmental CPV Testing Facility: a
impact compared to standard joint initiative between
villas. The ‘Net Zero Energy’ Masdar and Instituto de
prototype equipped with 80 Sistemas Fotovoltaicos de
rooftop PV panels can supply Concentración (ISFOC)
up to 40,000 kWh per year of Spain, researching the
to the national grid, easily performance of Concentrated
offsetting its own electricity Photovoltaic (CPV) systems
requirements. in the Gulf’s desert climate
conditions.

• Seawater Energy & Q: What impact have you
Agriculture System (SEAS): delivered (social, economic
a project supporting the and environmental)? Do you
nascent aviation biofuel have metrics or statistics of
industry in the Middle East your accomplishments?
and promoting increased Masdar has 10 years of
food security through the experience as a renewable
cultivation of oil-rich, salt- energy developer and
tolerant plants from the investor, building state-of-
waste water of an industrial the-art projects, from large,
fish farm. SEAS is an initiative utility-scale power plants to
of the Sustainable Bioenergy community grid projects to
Research Consortium individual solar house systems
established by the Masdar in locations around the world.
Institute, Etihad Airways, In total, Masdar has invested
Boeing and Honeywell UOP. more than US$2.7 billion in

10 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

as part of the UAE leadership’s business environment was further power. Overall, renewable energy same. For example, our
commitment to the Sustainable illustrated by the 64 percent is the fastest growing power project in Samoa features
Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative. increase in registered companies sector worldwide, accounting collapsible wind turbines due
Since the launch of this category, in Masdar Free Zone (MFZ) last for the majority of new installed to the prevalence of cyclones.
nearly 2,000 students have year. capacity, so the future for the
participated in projects run by industry is bright indeed. ADVICE TO
award-winning schools and FACING Q: How do we provide cheap THE YOUNG
academies. Over 9,000 students CHALLENGES energy in poverty stricken areas? ENGINEERS
in total have benefitted along & PROVIDING Masdar has led the way in
with 37,000 people living in local SOLUTIONS providing renewable energy to The momentum towards
communities. Almost 1.5 million remote regions and communities the widespread adoption of
kWh have been generated, solar Q: What are the stumbling blocks away from the national grid. sustainable and renewable
panels with a total capacity or bottlenecks in the renewable For example, Masdar has led a energy can only be maintained
of 263 kW installed and CO2 industry? UAE initiative to bring secure through the collective action
emissions cut by over 1,000 sources of renewable energy to of our young scientific,
tonnes. From a wider industry 11 remote Pacific Island counties. technological and engineering
Our annual Sustainability Report perspective, one of the main These projects include innovative talent.
for 2015 demonstrates that we technical hurdles for sustainable solar and wind solutions that have My advice to young engineers
have firm foundations to build on renewable energy, and therefore provided 6.5MW of clean energy would be – think big and work
by outlining a range of significant one of the main points of focus and saved US$1 million dollars in hard. There is no limit to what
achievements. During 2015, we in terms of innovation, is energy diesel fuel imports. you can achieve with bold ideas,
secured the production of 2,962 storage. With effective storage The most important consideration dedication and determination.
gigawatt hours of total renewable technology in place, energy from when designing energy access You have the power to create
energy, displacing a total of 1.39 renewable sources will evolve projects in remote areas is to the new innovations that will
million tonnes of carbon. Masdar from its traditional peak-sharing consider the specific needs of the secure our future.
City’s personal rapid transport energy providing role to providing community and of the geography.
(PRT) system was used by more reliable base-load generating No two projects should be the
than 33,000 passengers each capacity, enabling electricity
month on average during the grids to absorb even more clean
period. Our attractiveness as a

JULY 2016 11
Future Cities & Robotics

WORLD’S FIRST CHILD
EXOSKELETON HELPS

DISABLED KIDS TO WALK

We have already seen many exoskeletons being developed for quite
some time, and most of them have been created especially for
elderly workers and for people achieving extraordinary strength. This
company however, has developed an exoskeleton made especially
for children with disabilities.
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has developed the
world’s first child exoskeleton which is designed to help children with
spinal muscular atrophy. Spinal muscular atrophy is a degenerative
illness which affects one in ten thousand babies in Spain.
This exoskeleton weighs 12 kilos, and is made of aluminium and
titanium. It is designed to help the patients walk—for some, for
the first time. This exoskeleton will also be used in physiotherapy
in hospitals to prevent secondary effects that are associated with
the loss of mobility in this illness. This technology is currently in the
preclinical phase and has been patented and licensed by CSIC and
its technology-based business unit, Marsi Bionics.

12 JULY 2016 Photo by: Engadget
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: MIT News Photo by: Medifit Biologicals

TINY ORIGAMI A ROBOT DID A
ROBOT REMOVES SURGERY WITHOUT
SWALLOWED THE HELP OF ANY
BATTERIES AND DOCTOR
MARBLES

Good news for parents something with potential It’s not new that robots have tools that are intelligent,
and toddlers everywhere. important applications assisted doctors in medical whether autonomous or
No need to worry about to health care. For operations and surgeries, but semi-autonomous, you can
young kids accidentally applications inside the recent experiment indicates make outcomes better.”
swallowing a battery or a body, we need a small, that robots alone can do Surgeons have the tendency
marble. Scientists from MIT, controllable, untethered the job themselves – yup, to have tremors during
the University of Sheffield robot system. It’s really with the doctor no longer operations, which robots
and Tokyo Institute of difficult to control and in the operating room. This do not have. This is what
Technology have developed place a robot inside is what can be derived from autonomous robots can
a robot that can remove the body if the robot is an experiment with an offer far more than the
eaten batteries and marbles. attached to a tether.” autonomous robot named humans: consistency. Having
Smart Tissue Autonomous autonomous robots in
It’s an ingestible origami This small robot works Robot or STAR, who made operating rooms can reduce
robot that unfolds itself from without wires since it can surgical stitches with pigs. human errors and improve
the capsule as soon as it be controlled by magnetic Composed of a robotic arm, efficiency, surgical time and
enters the stomach. It crawls waves. It is encased in a a suturing tool and imaging access to quality surgeons
along the stomach wall and piece of ice so that it can technologies, STAR operates in some of the 44.5 million
detects the small object be swallowed easily. using a computer program soft-tissue surgeries in the
and wraps itself around it, Every year, around 3,500 which has the intelligence United States a year.
then remove it. Scientists small batteries are to perform surgical practices,
also makes it possible for swallowed by toddlers. If especially stitches.
the robot to help in healing not removed immediately,
wounds inside the digestive it can cause stomach It was found out that the
system. lining burns. robots were as good as, if
Professor Danial Rus, leader not better, than the stitches
of the group behind this made by skilled surgeons.
origami robot and director Peter Kim, the study’s senior
of MIT’s Computer Science author, believes that if robots
and Artificial Intelligence can do it on pigs, they can
Laboratory (CSAIL), said: also do it to human patients.
“It’s really exciting to see our
small origami robots doing He said, “The main message
is that by giving surgeons

JULY 2016 13
Future Cities & Robotics

A revolutionary device is NEW ROBOTIC DEVICE
now being developed
in the laboratory of TO ASSIST PHYSICAL
AndrosRobotics (AR) LLC
which will help stroke THERAPISTS
patients and physical
therapists in gait training. Photo by: Google/Sites
The device is called the
Robotic Leg Advancement
Device (R-LAD).

The device will primarily
help physical therapists in
administering gait training.
It will reduce the number of
physical therapists required
in treating a patient from
2 or 3 to just one, without
compromising the gait
training therapy. But it
isn’t designed to replace
the therapists and is meant
to compliment them.

R-LAD is the brainchild
of Dr. Maciej Pietrusinski,
Founder and President
of AR, whose career is
dedicated to medical
robotics. The device
is a by-product of Dr.
Pietrusinski’s Ph.D.
project which aimed to
develop a robotic system
for controlling pelvic
motion during therapy.
The original system was
too complicated and too
expensive which led to the
simpler R-LAD device.

A prototype was made
thanks to a $225k grant
from National Science
Foundation. This grant
paved the way for R-LAD
to place third among
664 submissions in the
International Robotics
for Good competition in
Dubai.

14 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

ENGINEERS HELP
PARALYTICS TO
GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET

Photo by: Adrian Malloch

The Rex Bionics Group is a leading With Rex, an individual can make
technology based company that any movement like walking, moving
produces robotic walking devices. sideways, climbing up and down the
Paralytics in wheel chairs will now stairs, and even turning around. It is
be able to walk, all thanks to this convenient to move on any surface
company’s innovation. The robotic may it be on slopes, ramps or flat
innovation’s physical appearance is surfaces.
similar to a human exoskeleton, a sort It has a battery that can be
of robotic suit, which could be the recharged and can run for around
next alternative for wheelchairs. two hours. However, prior to
Rex Bionics uses advanced purchasing a Rex, the person needs
technological solutions, precise to consult a physician and qualified
engineering, electromechanical physical therapist to make sure that
actuators and exclusive system it is suitable for them. In order to
of network to make this awesome use Rex, a person’s height must be
robotics device possible. The primary between 4’8’’- 6’4’’, weight less
concern of the robotic exoskeleton than 220lb and a waist dimension
has been to improve the capabilities of less than 15”.
of the people of military ground. The Rex Bionics ensures that they instruct
materials that are used to build it their customers well on how to use
are lightweight, so that the person it. They mention that it is suitable
will be able to maneuver the device for any manual wheelchair user
comfortably. The individual will strap to operate with the help of hand
themselves to the exoskeleton with controls. This device has proved to
the help of several Velcro and buckle- be very helpful for the paralytics.
straps that are strapped around the
legs and the belt wraps around the
waist. Unlike most exoskeletons, REX
is controlled through a joystick that is
placed in the waist level of the user.

JULY 2016 15
Future Cities & Robotics

‘2045 INITIATIVE’:
THE TECHNOLOGY TO
GAIN ETERNAL LIFE

Dmitry Itskov, a Russian media mogul and multi-millionaire,
has one goal: to be able to use technology to live forever. To
be able to do this, he is currently heading a science-based
project called the ‘2045 initiative’ which aims to “upload”
human consciousness into an online avatar that can live
forever.
Itskov has given millions of dollars into pioneering the
research since the initiative was launched. His team of
scientists, believe that the human brain is very similar to a
computer and will eventually be able to be transferred to
upgradable “bodies”.
Itskov claims that he has upped the urgency of his research.
"If there is no immortality technology, I'll be dead in the
next 35 years," he says in an upcoming documentary,
The Immortalist. “The ultimate goal of my plan is to
transfer someone's personality into the new artificial carrier.
Different scientists call it uploading or they call it mind
transfer. I prefer to call it personality transfer."

Photo by: International Business Times

16 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

THE MORAL AND ETHICAL

ISSUE WITH ROBOTS

Photo by: EW.com Photo by: geeksofdoom.com

Take a look at science fiction Stephen Hawking, Steve that may turn to be very bad
and you will find innumerable Wozniak and Elon Musk have if the robot ends up hurting
examples of robots gone agreed to get autonomous people when fetching the
evil. From the popular weapons such as drones desired item.
Skynet and Terminators to banned. Such weapons are Another interesting test
HAL 9000 to Ultron, there capable of identifying and proposed by Jerry Kaplan is
are many robots that are destroying targets without the driving test. Self-driving
out to destroy humanity. Of human intervention. As scary cars need to make a very
course, such stories may be a as that sounds, the actual crucial decision when it comes
bit of a stretch. Nonetheless, applications may be more to avoiding a major accident.
there is a genuine concern mundane. Nonetheless, it For example, should the car
about artificially intelligent may spark off another arms swerve to save pedestrians
robots but it’s not because race. and harm the occupants or
people worry about these Jerry Kaplan, a scholar the reverse? Now that is a
robots taking over the world. of artificial intelligence, moral conundrum that even
The concern is about whether believes that morality is humans find difficult to
the robots in question are essential to robots. After all, agree on. Kaplan declares
capable of taking the right humans can end up making that machines by their very
moral choice at the right some extremely silly and bad nature are psychopaths.
time. choices when it comes to Therefore, it becomes crucial
Thousands of scientists their robots. After all, they that robots are taught
and tech experts such as may ask the robot to fetch morality and ethics. A lofty
something quickly. Now, goal? Well, we need that or
Skynet is a possibility.

JULY 2016 17
Future Cities & Robotics

It’s Scary What AI Can Do

Artificial Intelligence has come
a long way after its introduction
in 1950’s. But what if robots and
Artificial Intelligence replace the
human race as shown in the sci-
fi movies? Sounds intimidating,
right? Some eminent personalities
like Stephen Hawking seems to be
bothered about this same issue for
quite some time now.

Nevertheless, reality tells us that
there is nothing to worry about.
The concern of the people is mostly
compelled by Hollywood movies.
The fact is that though the field
of artificial intelligence might be
making huge progress but it is
nowhere near being a threat yet.
There will be enough time to gauge
the problem and solve it.

This does not necessarily mean that Photo by: Technologyreview.com left:: Stephen Hawking
the issue can be left to be ignored. Photo by: t-online.de below: Michio Kaku
In any case, if you look into the
matter very closely you will notice
that artificial intelligence needs to
reach to some point where they will
be able to think all by themselves
and evolve into something all by
themselves which we will not be
perceive and control.
There is no reason to think that
artificial intelligence will rise up
against us one day in an attempt
to break free from the constraints of
humanity. When you come to think
of it logically, you will realize that
if you have a robot that performs
according to your instruction, then
how can you wake up one morning
to find the robot to be doing some
other tasks which it has not been
programmed to do? No way! They
are not human beings that they will
not have their feelings and opinions
about something. They do not have
dreams and desires, and they work
according to the goals that we set
for them.

You might want to ask, is there Photo by: consciouslifenews.com
nothing to worry about? Well, not
really, not at least at present. For
now you can enjoy the privileges
provided by the AIs.

18 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

MEET ASUS’ ZENBO:
THE FAMILY’S
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
ROBOT

Asus has just unveiled a In Asus’ Zenbo video A big reason for Asus’s
cute talking robot named showed some of the robot’s creation of Zenbo is that it
Zenbo. It was presented at capabilities, like giving could help assist the elderly.
this week’s Computex trade reminders, interacting with According to Asus, Zenbo
show in Taipei, it’s priced at family members, telling “helps to bridge the digital
$599. stories to the children, movie divide between generations”
Zenbo is an adorably- streaming, and its face is by allowing seniors to make
designed, friendly home robot touch screen too!—which video calls and use social
which generally provides helps the family to connect networking with simple voice
assistance, entertainment and browse through the commands.
and companionship to internet. Zenbo can also connect to a
families and it helps address The Chairman of Asus smart bracelet which alerts
the different needs of the Jonney Shih presented and relatives via a smartphone
family members. It has demonstrated Zenbo at a app if their elderly relative
numerous capabilities like press conference in Taipei, has a fall.
moving independently he gave it various voice
and understanding spoken commands and asked it Photo by: Android Community
commands. questions as it rolled on the
stage.

JULY 2016 19
Future Cities & Robotics

MEET
THE REAL
JARVIS
FROM
IRON MAN

Autonomous, a company
based in the United
States will be offering
us, mere mortals, the
opportunity to purchase
Maya, a Personal Robot
for US$1499 come the
middle of 2016. Maya’s
Kickstarter program
had 274 backers pledge
$161,537.00 to get the
project off the ground and
it seems the first of 300
of these Robotic Personal
assistants will be born very
soon.
Some cynics have ridiculed
the concept, and sure,
the design may look like
the unplanned progeny
of a Tennis racquet, iPad
and Robo Vac after a
swinger’s party. But the
problems that was solved
and the engineering
effort that has gone into
the making of Maya is
simply breathtaking!! The

Photo by: Cloud Front

20 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

company claims “She’s the
whole package: your very
own personal assistant,
photographer, storyteller,
telepresence device
& the smartest home
automation system.”
Sounds good to me, and
if the promotional videos
are to be believed she will
be effective to the point of
being a nagging nuisance!
But despite this, the
company is dedicated to
the development of such
devices and has gone to
painstaking measures to
find the best componentry
available in the market
today. If you fancy yourself
as a tech genius and
would like to be part of the
development process, the
company offers a research
version called Deep Bot
for US$999. Though it
looks like something an
alien race would use in a
death squad, Deep Bot is
creating an open source
opportunity for anyone
willing to contribute
to the evolution of this
technology.
While I think many of
the features of Maya
are already done well by
people, I think the concept
is pretty darn clever! The
discussion and research
it will foster, will make
a huge contribution to
how we can develop the
technology to aid us in
our daily lives. Who knows,
with further development
of these devices, we
might even be able to
program Maya to match
the owner’s preference of
assistance like aiding the
disabled and the elderly.

Photo by: Autonomous JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics
21

THIS Photo by: Turner
ROBOT
HAND CAN Many robots nowadays can the International Conference
LEARN do a variety of tasks ranging on Robotics and Automation
FROM ITS from easy to difficult. in Stockholm.
MISTAKES They are used in different If you’re familiar with Rosie,
industries, but mostly in the robot maid from the
manufacturing. Yet while Jetsons, the Adroit system
these robots have an edge in is somewhat similar to its
specific tasks, they can’t do technology. Its hardware
a given list of chores or learn accomplishes tasks better
certain skills on their own. than humans and is
Now a new robot hand can controlled by a “Brain”
learn how to master new which learns—just like the
abilities over time, and it human mind. Vikash Kumar,
doesn’t need help from its the lead researcher, and his
programmers. This extra- team focused on building a
dexterous robotic hand robot that could do general
is the product of study tasks and be able to adapt.
by 3 researchers from the According to the researchers,
University of Washington. their creation can be used in
They call this the Adroit many applications like space
manipulation system, and exploration and healthcare.
presented it on Tuesday at

Photo by: Youtube/ ADROIT Manipulation Platform

22 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN COMPUTERS
START TO LEARN
ON THEIR OWN

How do computers learn something new? One might say Photo by: Stanford Info Lab
programming, but it involves telling the computer every
little step that it needs to perform in order to complete the
new task. You need to know the steps yourself in order to
teach the computer. However, what do you do when you
don’t know the steps yourself?
This is where machine learning comes in. With this
technology, the computer is made to learn things and
processes on its own. Jeremy Howard is a specialist in this
field. He gave a TED Talk to show how much machine
learning has evolved and how it will begin to affect the
world at large.
The first example of machine learning took place in 1956
when a guy named Arthur Samuel wanted his computer to
be good enough at checkers to beat him. His solution was
to make the computer keep playing checkers against itself
and learning from the games. Suffice to say, it worked
so well that the computer ended up defeating the state
champion of Connecticut.

Today, examples of machine learning
are all around us. The most common
application is the search engine. Google
makes use of machine learning to get
its search engine locate the information
that you actually want. Remember those
recommendations shown in Amazon?
Those recommendations are provided by
machine learning algorithms. Pretty nifty,
right? Well, it can be creepy too like those
friend recommendations in LinkedIn.

Photo by: Your News Wire Take for example the team which created
a computer program for automatic drug
discovery. What’s cool is that the team
did not have any knowledge in biology or
medicine. They simply used what is called
deep learning. Deep learning allows
computers to actually learn Chinese.

Now, what does that mean for people
and their jobs? We might be heading into
another Industrial Revolution, except, the
results might not pretty. After all, deep
learning will allow computers to perform
80% of human jobs easily.

JULY 2016 23
Future Cities & Robotics

ATLAS THE ROBOT DOESN'T
WANT TO BE PUSHED
AROUND ANYMORE

It’s 2016 and these engineers have finally
programmed a robot that can’t be pushed
around anymore. Boston Dynamics, an
engineering and robotics design company,
has just released an updated version of Atlas.
This company is where people from the
military and even the entertainment industry
turn to when they need help with specialized
robots.
And as expected, Google owns this company.
In its Youtube video, it has described its latest
addition to the company’s weird but very
innovative collection of robots:
“A new version of Atlas, designed to operate
outdoors and inside buildings. It is specialized
for mobile manipulation. It is electrically
powered and hydraulically actuated. It uses
sensors in its body and legs to balance and
LIDAR and stereo sensors in its head to
avoid obstacles, assess the terrain, help with
navigation and manipulate objects. This
version of Atlas is about 5' 9" tall (about a
head shorter than the DRC Atlas) and weighs
180 lbs.”
Atlas can now walk and move just like a
normal human being. It can even stack boxes
on its own. One feature that makes this latest
version remarkable is its ability to get back
right up after it has been pushed over by a
stick.
Is this the beginning of robots finally sticking
up to itself and eventually picks a fight with
humans? Are we seeing a possible human-
robot war in the future? Will these robots
evolve into something that would make them
our enemies?
Future enemies or not, these robots will be
used to help soldiers carry equipments and
probably replace humans in deployment to
dangerous areas. So far, Boston Dynamics
tests its robots’ efficiency by treating them
to different kinds of tortures like kicking them
and making them walk in icy steps.
Still brutal even for robots. Good thing they
don’t feel anything.

Photo by: 4erevolution

24 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: UAH

ARUOTOBNOOTSMOCAUNS
ALSO SAVE
LIVES

Science is doing everything in its Engineering Major, has been working At present, the robot is working
power to bridge the gap between on the project for more than one according to the inputs that they
humans and robots. The students of year. are giving but they are unsure as
University of Alabama in Huntsville They have written a code and to how accurate the robot executes
(UAH) and their adviser have built inserted it into the robot which the code. However, what is amazing
an autonomous robot that has will make the robot function. The about this robot is that this has
managed to grab a lot of attention. robot has a GPS system to be the capability to adjust its error
There are a lot of robots out there, so able to detect its surroundings. automatically. Somehow, their robot
what is so special about the robot? It is supposed to function in an fixes a problem that their makers
The project that they are developing unfamiliar environment without any cannot fix.
teaches the robots the way they kind of assistance from you. You just This robot is definitely opening up
will control themselves in certain let it do the task. That’s it; but it can new opportunities in the field of
environments. These robots function be operated by a remote control if autonomous robots. With time,
primarily like driverless cars. you desire. these kind of robots will come out
Dr. Farbod Fahimi, along with The robot is so smart that it can of the laboratory and find its place
mechanical engineering graduate detect the surroundings and report in the hands of the military and
Sai Susheel Praneeth Kode and his about its conditions to you. That emergency response where they are
research assistant, Tevon Walker, way, it can also cut off human needed the most.
an undergraduate Computer element when it is not required.

JULY 2016 25
Future Cities & Robotics

SCIENTISTS

ARE TEACHING

AN ARTIFICIAL

INTELLIGENCE

SYSTEM TO TELL

STORIES BASED

ON PHOTOS

26 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: Pinterest

Scientists will soon prove a system that can saying. “Bride and groom,”
that Artificial Intelligence automatically describe they would say “My best
may be able to embody the images just like a person friend got married. They look
saying “A picture is worth a would tell a story. Their happy, and it was a beautiful
thousand words,” because objective is not only to let wedding.”
now, they are teaching the system enumerate the According to study senior
programs to tell a story objects in the picture, but to author Margaret Mitchell,
based entirely from pictures. explain what is happening a computer scientist at
According to the researchers, in the photo and how it can Microsoft Research, "The
computers will soon be able make a person feel. In other goal is to help give AIs more
to explain what is happening words, they are giving the AI human-like intelligence, to
in videos, just like people do. storytelling capabilities. help it understand things on
Scientists at Microsoft For example, if a person is a more abstract level — what
Research with their shown a picture of a man in it means to be fun or creepy
colleagues are developing a tuxedo and a woman in a or weird or interesting.”
long, white dress, instead of

JULY 2016 27
Future Cities & Robotics

AN AI CAN NOW
READ AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS BASED
ON NEWS ARTICLES

In the future, you may common sense of how the Now, a group led by Manning
be able to chat with your world works [from reading] has designed an algorithm
computer about the daily about things in novels or that was able to beat
news headlines, because watch[ing] sitcoms,” DeepMind’s results by 10
now, an AI is being taught Last year, Google’s percent on the CNN articles
how to read, analyze and DeepMind team got a series and 8 percent for Daily Mail
answer questions about a of articles from the Daily Mail articles. Overall, it got a score
news article accurately. website and CNN to help of 70 percent.
One of Computer Science’s train an algorithm, so that “Some of the stuff they
goals is to be able to it can read and understand had just causes needless
create AI systems that can short stories. The researchers complications. You get rid
learn humanity’s existing used the bulleted summaries of that and the numbers go
information. According to of the articles to create up.” Manning said.
Chris Manning at Standford short and simple questions
University, “Computers which trained the algorithm
don’t have the kind of to search for the article key
general knowledge and points.

Photo by: Makeuseof

28 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

MCRSWNAOUAAAMVRSTREIAEPSOR’RLSSETOIOTNY

NASA scientists have been agency is expecting to take Photo by: Express
searching for liquid water photos within a year.
on mars, and they’ve found However, finding water
hints. Now, they want to doesn’t mean Curiosity will
have a closer look at it. NASA find life. As we all know,
revealed that the Curiosity Mars’ harsh conditions like
rover will be investigating fierce radiation might have
recurring slope lineae— prevented life in the first
the dark narrow streaks on place. We may take a look
the above photo—around at this investigation as a
Mars’ Gale Crater hoping to stepping stone for mankind.
find water. By getting results, the
It will first take a photo findings Curiosity will collect
using its mast camera to may help plan a mission
make sure that there really for finding signs of life. A
is water. If it does find small success in this trip may
water, the machine will lead to greater things in the
go and get samples. The future.

JULY 2016 29
Future Cities & Robotics

BIG GUYS - HAWKING,
WOZNIAK, HASSABIS
AND MUSK ARE OPPOSING
AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS

Until now, it was just in the autonomous weapons. There
science fiction movies, but are some high profile names
now, it is known that the on the list of petitioners
“killer robots” are possible. including Prof. Stephen
Throughout the world, there Hawking, Tesla’s CEO Elon
are around 40 countries Musk, Google DeepMind
that are engaged in building CEO Demis Hassabis and
autonomous robots. Apple co-founder Steve
Probably, the day is not far Wozniak. They have joined
when the humanity has to be hands to put a ban on the
on war against the machines designing and development
for their survival. There of weapons that can
are talks that the world is autonomously “select and
nearing an autonomous engage targets without
arms race. To stop this kind of human interventions.”
a destructive war, which can The letter of declaration
have a devastating impact states: “AI technology has
on the entire humanity, reached a point where the
some great scientists of the deployment of [autonomous
world have come together. weapons] is – practically
They have filed a petition to if not legally – feasible
the governments all around within years, not decades,
the world to put ban on
30 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: Hawking Photo by: Woz

Photo by: speakerpedia Photo by: Ted

and the stakes are high: just the beginning. With An open letter from Future
autonomous weapons have the advancement of robotic of Life Institute summarizes
been described as the third technology, more lethal the ideologies of every
revolution in warfare, after weapons are going to come petitioner: “We believe that
gunpowder and nuclear to the forefront to kill people AI has great potential to
arms.” and wage wars against one benefit humanity in many
Hawkings and Musk another. ways, and that the goal of
reiterated that mankind’s According to roboticist Noel the field should be to do
biggest existential threat is Sharkey, the new world so. Starting a military AI
to develop an AI that could robots will not look like the arms race is a bad idea, and
spell the end of the human ones we see in movies and should be prevented by a ban
race. televisions. The killer robots on offensive autonomous
A few of the early examples will probably look like the weapons beyond meaningful
of machines that could hit autonomous machines that human control.”
targets and kill without we have now. According to In the distant future, I hope
any kind of human help Sharkey, the machines will that mankind won’t have to
are drones, quadcopters almost look like the tanks, jet choose between the red pill
armed with weaponry, and fighters, or ships. The main or the blue from Morpheus?
various military targeting aim of the petitioners is to
systems. However, that is stop the kill decision to be
not the end of it, they are given to machines.

JULY 2016 31
Future Cities & Robotics

DOMINO’S PIZZA Photo by: digitaltrends
UNVEILS
SELF-DRIVING Photo by: PCmag
PIZZA DELIVERY Photo by: imgix
ROBOT
Photo by: Arstechnica
If you told my college self that in a According to Domino’s, DRU can deliver
few years, pizza would be delivered pizzas up to 12.5 miles away and will
by a smaller and less depressed be using the sidewalk and bicycle lanes
version of the robot Marvin from The while following your GPS coordinates.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, After ordering, you get a unique code
I’d have laughed in your face (and on your phone that will let you open a
maybe barfed, too, because college specific compartment on DRU, which
was an insane blur). incidentally can carry up to 10 pizzas in
Well, my past self should have known separate heated compartments, along
better because Domino’s Pizza just with drinks.
told the world that it is currently For those worried that little DRU might
testing a new, totally autonomous, fall into a pothole, worry no more because
pizza delivery robot that will be driving this robot was built by Marathon Targets,
itself to your door in the very near a company that works primarily with the
future. The Domino Robotic Unit, or military in developing robots specifically
DRU, is apparently not an elaborate for obstacle-avoidance during live-fire
marketing stunt but an actual robot exercises. Because when I’m having my
that’s been driving around Australia pizza delivered, I take comfort in knowing
for some time now for its trial runs it’s being done by a military-grade piece
before Domino’s rolls it out to the of technology.
world.

32 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

ROBCOOTOSKTHFOATR WYOILUL

Photo by: Moley Robotics

If you have a problem with your own skills of Master Chef Tim Anderson, available to consumers until the fourth
cooking, or wanted a chef in your own winner of the BBC Master Chef title, quarter of 2017. It will be supported
kitchen, that won’t be so much of a in a demonstration and putting the by an iTunes-style downloadable
problem anymore with the world’s skills into its system. The hands then library of recipes that the robot chef
first ever robotic kitchen. replicate, even the pauses in between can cook at your own home which
The robotic kitchen features four key and the OK gesture in the end, the are about 2,000 recipes. Just prepare
integrated kitchen items of robotic master chef’s abilities into its kitchen. a good amount of $75,000 at its first
arms, an oven, a hob and a touchscreen No wonder about that, since the launch.
unit. It can be operated right at your nuclear industry and NASA uses the The robot kitchen is the brainchild
fingertips via a smartphone or via the same kind of hands made by the of U.K.-based Moley Robotics,
included touch screen; all you need to Shadow Robot Company. which prototype premiered at an
do is pull up a recipe and wait for the If you are concerned with being international robotics show Hanover
robot to serve you the food. stabbed by the robot, no need to fret Messe. The eureka moment for the
It isn’t a machine that just cooks; it as the robots uses a food processor idea was of Mark Oleynik in January
has hands that can cook like a master and limits itself to knives. The kitchen of 2014. The first patents were filed
chef. The hands get its articulation also comes with a protective screen in the following month; a prototype
– its speed, its sensitivity, and its as an additional layer of safety. was built by Moley in September of
movement – by recording the cooking This technology, however, will not be the same year.

JULY 2016 33
Future Cities & Robotics

RTCHOOEBNOSFTTURSTUUACRRTEEIOOFN

We have seen many robots construction in the future. Robots can also be used with start-up Skycatch uses drones
integrated with laboratory The future of construction off-site fabrication of the on high-profile building
machines and factory lies in modern technology buildings’ elements by 3D projects, which provides a
equipment, but we have that will help in various printing them. bird’s-eye view of a site to
just started seeing robots aspects: drones to monitor Drones have become give progress reports, and
helping in the construction site activities and robotic recently popular and their speed up site logistics
of our buildings. It doesn’t bulldozers to push soil applications in construction through delivery monitoring
end there: there’s more without the human touch. sites are already realized. US and real-time updates.
with robots in the field of Japanese construction

34 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: dronologista

machinery giant Komatsu Other than drones are 3D one possible solution.
takes it a step further and printing machines which will Technology is moving
uses Skycatch drones to be prevalent in the future to forward and the construction
have eyes for automated solve the housing crisis. The industry is adapting with it.
bulldozers. Their function is to United Nations estimates There’s a lot more in store
send 3D models of a building that by 2030, approximately for this teaming up that
site to a computer which will three billion people will engineers have to deal with.
then feed information to the require housing and has
driverless machinery. introduced 3D printing as

JULY 2016 35
Future Cities & Robotics

Learn
Buddhism
ftRhrooebmoBatXbMiyaonn’ekr,

Photo by: The Malay Mail Online Photo by: Crowd Fund Insider

This is what we get when we meet Master Xianfan who says that CUBETTO, A
Buddhism and technology. this integration of science and PROGRAMMABLE
A modern approach has been technology with spirituality is ROBOT FOR KIDS
made to introduce one of the but a natural alignment. He said,
oldest religions in the world, “Science and Buddhism are not Just when you think that the
Buddhism, and that is through a opposing [or] contradicting, kids of this era is all about
baby robot monk named Xian’er. and can be combined and playing games on tablets or iPads
It’s more than just a cute robot as mutually compatible. Buddhism (where no fundamental skills are
it will promote the religion in its is something that attaches much developed), an educational toy is
own way. importance to inner heart, and created that aims to revolutionize
The robot, which is dressed like pays attention to the individual’s the way youngsters think and
a Buddha but only standing two spiritual world.“ He added, “It is a learn. Introducing Cubetto by
feet tall and purely electronics, kind of elevated culture. Speaking Primo Toys, a playful wooden
has a touchscreen on his chest from this perspective, I think it robot that lets kids aged 3 and
which helps him answer 20 can satisfy the needs of many above to learn programming and
questions about Buddhism and its people.” STEM skills through storytelling.
lifestyle. It can also move around The current robot monk is still up Using its screenless block-
in seven different ways adding to for development to cater to more based control panel and tactile
the fancy of its appearance. functions. But if you want to have methods specifically designed for
Xian’er is the brainchild of an overview of Buddhism, Xian’er young minds, the toy set is able
will give you that just enough in to introduce debugging, queue
Beijing Longquan Temple. and recursions which in effect
teaches the children to think
JULY 2016 more logically.
Future Cities & Robotics Basically, the kids have to
command the cube robot to
move around obstacles to reach
its home. Think it's all too much
for the innocent minds to handle?
Not really because of the colorful,
creative displays and easy to
maneuver toy parts, Cubetto is
able to provide joyful learning
memories for the 'curious little
minds with big imaginations'.

36

WORLD’S FIRST
POLICE ROBOT

WORTH $3.2 BILLION

China has unveiled the world’s Photo by: Popsci
first police robot at the 12th
Annual Chongqing Hi-tech Fair. Photo by: Telegraph
The robot is called “AnBots”,
and was created by the
National Defense Univeristy—
the Chinese military base for
innovation.
Anbots is 1.49 meters long,
and weighs around 78kg. It
is programmed to patrol the
streets at one kilometre per
hour. It can run for a span of
8 hours and charge its battery
on its own.
The robot is 1.49 meters
long and reportedly weighs
approximately 78 kg. It is
programmed to patrol the
streets one kilometer per hour
and can reach a speed of 18
kilometers per hour. It can
run for 8 hours and charge its
battery on its own.
It includes other features like
biochemical detection, explosive
clearing, intelligent monitoring,
emergency call response and
also environmental monitoring.
The Ministry of Public Security
has also pointed out the
limitations of the robot at the
launch, they mentioned its
lack of social and emotional
intelligence, and the inability
to catch suspects and it also
carries the risk of cyber-attacks.
They also mentioned that
robots will never fully replace
the police, and that the system
will be controlled by humans.
Civilians will also be able to use
the robot using the SOS button
on the robot.

JULY 2016 37
Future Cities & Robotics

EFilriosts:CTohlelWisoiornld's
Tolerant Drone

Photo by: Flyability

Drones have been around for people don’t have to risk going Flyability developed Elios, the therefore absorb the energy from
some time and they are usually through extreme measures world’s first collision tolerant the collision while the propellers
used for different purposes like to survey or inspect a certain drone. This drone is surrounded inside are still spinning and the
taking aerial footages of events, area. However, one flaw in by a 15-inch exoskeleton-sphere HD camera and lighting system
and taking aerial selfies. For using drones is that it could get (approximated size). The idea are still stabilized. This drone
the engineering field though, damaged during inspection or of this drone was inspired by can be used in different extreme
drones have a different purpose, surveying. This can happen if houseflies, which bounces off a and dangerous environments
they are used to survey and the area being inspected is too surface and keep flying. Elios is that could cause harm to a
inspect different areas that are tight—the drone would bump equipped with a free-rotating person like chemical spill sites,
too difficult or dangerous for into different places, and could carbon-fiber exoskeleton which collapsed buildings and even
people to do so themselves. get damaged. Falling debris, spins on a separate axis from glaciers.
and weather issues could also the drone avionics inside.
Using drones not only makes damage the drone.
the job safe and effective, it When Elios hits a wall, the
also promotes safety—since This is why the company cage will continue to spin and

38 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: youtube/Laundroid

THE Anyone who has tried to live work, but it is committed
LWFAOOULRNFDLIDRIDRNS’YGST- alone (and by alone, I mean no to shortening that and also
household help, not even part- reducing the product’s size as
ROBOT time) will most probably agree soon as it hits the market by
with me that folding clothes 2017.
is such a pain in the arse. I Laundroid’s trump card is its
mean, come on! It personally ability to recognize the type of
takes me some three tries clothing and to fold the item
before I can successfully fold by means of its robotic arm.
a simple short-sleeve shirt, let It has an automated opening
alone a long sleeve one. I am in the center in which the user
sometimes just tempted to can toss the piece of clothing.
fold each of the clothing item The machine accepts the item,
the way I want just to get the then after folding it, tosses it
chore done and over with. If out neat and tidy.
there is a device that can do The makers of laundroid plans
the washing and the drying, to integrate the device with its
why isn’t there that can do user’s home by 2020, in that
the folding? the user can simply dump their
Well, folks, our wait is over! used clothes into laundroid,
Presenting the “laundroid” – and the machine itself will put
a device that can wash and them in their proper closet
dry clothing, then identify spaces once washed, dried
each clothing item and neatly and folded. The creators, as
fold them up. The Japanese early as now, envision that
technology, produced by laundroid will be most useful
Panasonic, together with in hospitals and nursing care
Seven Dreamers and Daiwa, is facilities, which require an
about the size of a refrigerator, exceedingly high volume of
and is said to be capable of items to be washed, dried and
folding a t-short in about five folded.
to 10 minutes. A prototype of laundroid was
Wait, what? Ten minutes! demonstrated at the CEATEC
The creators admit that trade fair, Japan’s biggest IT
laundroid’s present turn- and electronics fair.
around time is exceedingly
long compared to manual

JULY 2016 39
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: Robotic Gizmos

THIS ROBOT A group of students and According to Huang Xi, a
CAN BEAT professors from the University student from the University
YOU AT of Electronic Science and of Electronic Science and
BADMINTON Technology of China developed Technology of China, "We were
a robot that can play the the only team who made this
sport badminton just like any robot fully-automated. We are
amateur player. This robot uses in the business of making clever
cameras, motion sensors and a devices. We might as well make
special navigation system. it fully intelligent,"

It was named the Robomintoner, This robot has become very
and was created for competition. popular in China. It played
The UESTC team was given a ceremonial matches against
task to create a badminton- Dong Jiong, an Olympic medal
playing bot for the Asia-Pacific winning badminton player.
Robocon 2015, wherein the Recently, it competed against
robots would compete against table tennis champion Wang
each other in doubles matches. Liqin.

Photo by: Prog3

40 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

This Creepy Robot Is
Designed Just to Stab
People

Photo by: Alexander Reben

Biochemist Isaac Asimov has Three Laws debate with robots but on a different light that does this that actually exists...That
of Robotics. The first law says, “A robot – by breaking the laws, he wants people was important, to take it out of the thought
may not injure a human being or, through to realize about the inevitable robot experiment realm into reality, because once
inaction, allow a human being to come to population that might harm us later in life. something exists in the world, you have to
harm;” while the second law states, “A robot He does not intend to scare people with confront it. It becomes more urgent. You
must obey orders given it by human beings his robot either, which by the way, is only a can’t just pontificate about it.”
except where such orders would conflict black box with a mechanical arm. Nothing
with the First Law.” scary at all on first look, but when you Reben wants the people to start confronting
place your fingers (for the fun of it) inside the physicality of robots harming the
But both laws are challenged by a roboticist a pair of brackets, the robot is alerted of people. He reiterates that it will raise a bit
from California who just invented a machine your presence and it starts pricking your more awareness outside the philosophical
that purposely stabs humans with needles. finger until it bleeds. That’s it. realm, so he broke the robotics laws.
For a reason.
He says, “No one’s actually made a robot He could have just chosen a robot that
Alexander Reben from Stochastic Labs in that was built to intentionally hurt and pinches the humans, right? But no, he
Berkeley, California wants to join the ethical injure someone. I wanted to make a robot wants it bloody.

JULY 2016 41
Future Cities & Robotics

AWTFTMPGAAIRREAORTTOTTCSRTTISSTHOOSLTTDTIOOHHN’-ESEGESUISN Photo by: Metrouk2

There are a huge mass of people who
love tattoos, from simple, minimalistic
designs, to hardcore awesome hyper-
realistic tattoos. Some get tattoos
because of many reasons, the most
prevalent one is because each tattoo
has its own special meaning. That’s
why it’s important to many tattoo
recipients to make sure their tattoo
artist is skilled in his/her art.
But let’s be honest, it’s really difficult
to find a tattoo artist who can satisfy
the perfect tattoo art. After all,
getting a tattoo is somehow a ‘forever’
commitment—since they don’t come
off unless you have it professionally
removed.
If you’re one of those people who love
special tattoos, you might love that
tattoo art of JC Sheitan Tenet. Why?
Because, not only does he do awesome
realistic tattoo art but he does it using
a prosthetic hand! Woah!
Confused? Tenet is from Lyon,
France. He lost is arm 22 years ago,
and his existing prosthetic hand was
modified into the world’s first tattoo
machine prosthetic by French artist
JL Gonzal. Here are some of his
works.

42 JULY 2016 Photo by: Metro UK
Future Cities & Robotics

3D-PRINTED PROSTHETIC ARM HAS FEATURES
YOU DON’T SEE WITH THE OTHERS

We have seen artificial arms The recipient of this first-of-its-
that enable limb mobility, but kind prosthetic arm is James
not with one with a laser light, a Young, a gamer who fell under
torch, a USB port, a watch, and a train which left him with a
a drone fixed on a panel outside damaged left arm and a severed
of the shoulder. lower left leg. It happened May
18, 2012.
This design is created by a
Konami developer and publisher James is happy to have been
of the Metal Gear Solid titles, provided with the arm. He
who worked with a leading shared, “It gives me a hand –
prosthesis artist Sophie De and not a device. It’s soft, but
Oliviera Barata and a technical firm, so it’s really nice to shake!”
team. It is inspired by the
protagonist Snake in the new Photo by: Fashionably Geek
PlayStation 4 game Metal Gear
Solid V.

A product of 3D printing
technology, the arm allows its
recipient to pick up the tiniest
objects through commands
sent by the shoulder muscles.
It communicates with the
sensors and does its tasks like
a real hand, only with the extra
features.

Scarlett Johansson
Becomes A Doll Robot

Hong Kong-based product and own robot. He did not mind
graphic designer Ricky Ma just spending more than $50,000
created a female robot that is just to finish what he wanted.
modelled after the Hollywood Even if he had no background
star Scarlett Johansson from in 3D printing, programming and
scratch. The female robot electromechanics, he pursued with
prototype is named Mark 1 learning it. To him, it was a sweat
and is able to response from and blood project but it was all
verbal commands. It could also worth it.
make facial expressions. As an
example, when the robot is told "I figured I should just do it when
'Mark 1 you are so beautiful', the timing is right and realise my
it will bow and smile while dream. If I realise my dream, I will
replying 'Hehe, thank you.' have no regrets in life," Ricky Ma
happily commented on his work.
The success of Ricky Ma was
all thanks to his persistence What do you think is going to
and dedication to live out a be the consequence if humanoids
dream--that is to create his become a part of our daily lives?

Photo by: economictimes/indiatimes

JULY 2016 43
Future Cities & Robotics

HOW THE Photo by: Apartment Therapy

JETSONS Robot Maids

PREDICTED Let’s start with Rosie the robot maid. In 2012, we already have
a Rosie version through Honda’s Asimo, who can walk, talk, and
THE FUTURE interact with humans. Some other robots can now do housekeeping
like she does.
One of the many fascinating cartoons that we’ve watched
as a kid must be The Jetsons, because of an element Flatscreens
contrary to other animations: the future. The makers of
this cartoon have imagined what the world will look like in The video calls of the Jetson couple were done on flatscreen
2062, through the lifestyle in its characters George Jetson, televisions, on top of having to watch the news. Right now,
his son Elroy, his daughter Judy, and his wife Jane. And oh, the best tool for entertainment and information is through
not to forget the family’s space dog, Astro and their robot those thin and wide TVs.
maid, Rosie.
It’s not 2062 yet as how this Hanna Barbera 60’s cartoon
is staged, but there are some feats seen in many of their
episodes that are already happenin – a safe conclusion
that the writers of The Jetsons somehow predicted the
future.

Video Chat

Remember Jane getting to call George while he is in his Spacely
Sprockets through video call? Yes, that’s it, but that’s only two
of them – there’s a lot more in the cartoon that used video chat.
It’s prevalent now with the camera technology we have and the
Internet connection. Communication has become easy in the
modern times because of video calls.

44 JULY 2016 Photo by:Smithsonian Mag Photo by: Venture and the city
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by: chipchick Photo by: Article 3

Flying Cars Jetpacks

The transportation in The Jetsons is primarily flying car, if you can recall Human flight is achievable in the said television
George driving everyone to their respective locations in their opening billboard. series through jetpacks. We also have that now in
Although we are not there yet with flying cars, maybe in 2062, but humans our aim to also be elevated.
have made significant improvements with Terrafugia Transition, which can get
up to 62 mph on the road.

Dog Treadmills Smartwatch

Astro casually takes dog walks through a treadmill, which already The first smartwatch that shows images and videos might
exists to exercise their favorite canine. have been in The Jetsons. Even when the screen is so small,
it still works with George and even the humans just to
watch the favorite shows.

Photo by: retrokimmer Photo by: Youtube JULY 2016 45
Future Cities & Robotics

Photo by Hubspot Photo by:Cartoon Scrapbook

Tanning Beds Mall Architecture

Tanning beds, at the time The Jetsons was aired, wasn’t The malls we have now are shaping to look like the
very relevant at all. It is only after over a decade that shopping centers in The Jetsons. Instead of the
tanning beds were introduced to America in 1979 through conventional concrete and wood, we already use huge
Friedrich Wolff. amounts of glass for the exteriors.

Cloning Vacuum Tube Transport

In one episode, George decides to clone himself to do The Jetsons haven’t stepped on the levels of elevators and
dual duties: be relaxed at home and be busy at work. stairs, but of vacuum tubes that will serve as transport.
But in the new century, we only have until animal Today, undergoing study has been done by US and China
cloning because of moral debates regarding the if such system can work in real life. The transporters might
possibility of having to clone a human. That is not the hit 2,500 miles an hour as predicted by scientists, which
same way George cloned himself though as such only will enable the commute from America to Europe be
exists in fiction, but through biomedical engineering. shortened to an hour rather than 6 hours via plane.

There is a catch though: the clear elevator shafts are
already existent.

46 JULY 2016 Photo by Devops Photo by: Flickr
Future Cities & Robotics

WORLD’S FIRST
ROBOT-RUN
FARM OPENS
IN JAPAN

Automation is on the way to the
industries. Spread, a Japanese
vegetable producer, announces its
automated farm run by robots in
Kameoka, Kyoto prefecture.
It will the world’s first “robot farm”
in an attempt to address labor
shortages by the country’s shrinking
workforce and aging population.
The robot will do the re-planting
of young seedlings, watering,
trimming and eventually harvesting
of crops. The feat is said to boost the
productions from 21,000 to 50,000
lettuces per day and a consequent
plan to raise it up to half a million
lettuces daily in five years. It will also
improve efficiency and reduce labor
cost into half according to Spread’s
global marketing manager, JJ Price.
With the success of the first
automated farm, surely, Japan plans
to build more robotic plant factories
elsewhere, even across the globe.

Photos by Getty Images

JULY 2016 47
Future Cities & Robotics

UTsehleeQssueReonbootfs

All hail the queen of shitty robots!
She who works on useless automation!

by Dion Greg Reyes

For Swedish inventor Simone Giertz, robots are
not entirely as useful as we think they are. There
are ways to utilize robots in everyday life to the
point that they are already useless. And this is
evident in her YouTube channel, filled with videos
of robots and their out-of-this-world applications,
that has already gathered enough followers
– more than 200,000 of them – to say that the
Internet is indeed a weird place.
Her shitty machines speak of her imagination
and abilities. She already considers making such
machines a job (she earns quite a fortune with
her ingenous robots) and never plans to stop from
manufacturing and posting about them. Using
only Arduino UNO boards, she has brought robots
and contraptions to a different dimension that no
other engineer could have ever thought of.
If you visit her YouTube channel, you can find

48 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

there her robot that feed her with cereal, her
robot that puts on her lipstick, her robot that
chops vegetables, and her robot that argues on
the internet by banging itself on a keyboard,
among others. All are products of self-taught
robotics. She built stuff on her own being so idea-
oriented - she figures out building stuff by herself
rather than just learning them in theory.
It usually takes her an afternoon of work for
projects that only require minimal programming,
and one to two weeks full-time when she’s
working on more complicated robots like the
Applause Machine, which claps for you when
your hands are full (such a groundbreaking idea
for a robot, huh).
Living in an old tugboat makes her wish to have a
project of a submarine houseboat someday. It’s a
dream robot project that is up her sleeves when
she has enough time, skills and money for it. But
she will get there, undoubtedly, having to do her
unusual job on a regular basis that she enjoys. She
left her job in San Francisco for this kind of life in
Stockholm.
All hail the queen of shitty robots! She who works
on useless automation!

All photos are screencapped from
Simone Giertz’s YouTube channel.

JULY 2016 49
Future Cities & Robotics

Robots that Will Make
the Kids Want to
Learn Math and Science

by Dion Greg Reyes

For the kids, learning math and science is Play-i
almost always boring. The methods of teaching
such subjects to the young ones do not usually The robot tandem that encourages kids to engage
appeal to them especially when the styles are in computational thinking without knowing
too traditional or lacking with techniques or it, Play-i robots are a product of a successful
innovation. You can see in their eyes that they Kickstarter campaign. No doubt about that
show no interest at all because let’s face it, they because it holds a lot of promise in teaching kids
would rather choose to play with their toys through learning activities. Play-i robots are ball-
rather than immerse themselves in the seemingly shaped and composed of two: Bo and Yana. Bo is
difficult to process world of math and science. made up of four connected spheres that children
But with advent of modern technology through program to glide along the floor on three wheels,
robots, this might change. avoiding obstacles and delivering small items in
There is a certain charm with robots that children the process. Yana is a single sphere laden with
can be so enticed with. Using that charm, the sensors. Both are connected with a variety of
robots can capture the attention of the children Apple iOS and Google Android mobile devices
to be directed to a fun learning process, teaching using Bluetooth 4.0.
them about math and science. The children will “The goal is to keep interaction open-ended and
be immersed more than ever in wanting to learn free-play so kids discover what they can do with
with the enhanced interactive tools. the robot. The robot draws them in while posing
“Kids recognize when they are learning something new challenges over time,” says Play-i founder
themselves—robots give them that. Building and and CEO Vikas Gupta.
programming these devices is part of becoming
a creative science and engineering kind of Photo by Robot Launch
person.” That’s what Larry Johnson, CEO of a
research organization specializing in educational
technology called New Media Consortium said.
Robots have been proven to be more effective
educational tools starting from the lower grades
up to graduate school.
Here are robot platforms specially designed to
teach children:

50 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics